Bumper (character): Difference between revisions

From the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
(name of the site in 2021)
 
(145 intermediate revisions by 72 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Bumper.JPG|thumb|Bumper getting down and dirty on the race track.]]
{{character infobox
Bumper is a racer in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' and is a badger. He drives a yellow vehicle (be it [[Diddy Kong Racing Planes|Plane]], [[Diddy Kong Racing Hovercrafts|Hovercraft]], or [[Diddy Kong Racing Cars|Car]]).
|image=[[File:BumperDKRDSArtwork.png|200px]]<br>Bumper, as he appears in ''Diddy Kong Racing DS''
|full_name=Bumper the badger<ref>"{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/19990218060558/http://www.nintendo.com.au/games/n64/games/dkracing.html|deadlink=y|title=''Diddy Kong Racing''|publisher=Nintendo of Australia}}</ref>
|species=Badger
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|latest_appearance= ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]])
|portrayed_by= Lee Schuneman<ref>{{cite|title=''GamesTM'' Issue 134 ("The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games")|date=April 2013|page=58}}</ref>
}}
{{quote|Badgers don't stink, no matter what anyone else says.|Bumper|[[Nintendo Power]]}}<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Volume 102|page=29|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|date=November 1997}}</ref>
'''Bumper''' is a badger and one of the playable characters in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' and [[Diddy Kong Racing DS|its Nintendo DS remake]]. He also appeared in various ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' media released only in Japan, but this stopped in 2002, when the rights of Bumper were transferred to {{wp|Microsoft}}, following their acquisition of [[Rare Ltd.]]


Bumper may also have been set to make a reappearance in the cancelled game ''[[Donkey Kong Racing]]''; as [[Taj the Genie]], a character from ''Diddy Kong Racing'' was going to appear in it. It is unknown if Bumper was going to appear in ''Diddy Kong Racing's'' cancelled Game Boy Advance sequel, ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot]]''.
He is described across multiple supplemental material to ''Diddy Kong Racing'' as a lover of speed, thrills and races. A promotional e-mail by [[Rare Ltd.]] in 2004 to promote the release of ''{{wp|Conker: Live & Reloaded}}'' implied that one of the racers from ''Diddy Kong Racing'' had been jailed.<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/20080804094926/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/feature/conkers-public-address|title=Conker's Public Address|publisher=The Next Level|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref> An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/20140210121309/http://rare.co.uk/blog/2012/05/18/mini-scribes-may-18-2012|title=Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref> A tweet made by Rare Ltd. in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki account on {{wp|Twitter}} added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.<ref>{{cite|title=Oh, Bumper's been a free badger (well, on parole) for a while now and he's superficially sorry for all those bad things he did.|url=x.com/RareLtd/status/1445797744640208896|author=RareLtd|publisher=X|date=October 6, 2021|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>


Bumper has been confirmed to appear in ''Diddy Kong Racing's'' sequel/remake, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''.
==History==
===Concept and creation===
[[File:BumperOG.png|thumb|left|Early model for a blue Bumper]]
An early design of Bumper was shared online by [[Kevin Bayliss]], former [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]] graphic and character designer that worked on ''Diddy Kong Racing''.<ref>{{cite|author=TCRF|url=tcrf.net/Development:Diddy_Kong_Racing|title=Development:Diddy Kong Racing|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=x.com/render_archive/status/1445174824553394182|title=Some diddy kong racing test renders shared by kev bayliss on tik tok|author=@render_archive|publisher=X|accessdate=April 4, 2024}}</ref>{{better source}} This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.
{{br|left}}
===''Diddy Kong Racing'' / ''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===
Bumper was one of many characters whom [[Timber]] contacted for help to stop [[Wizpig]] from taking over [[Timber's Island]]. Bumper's theme instrument on the character selection menu is a {{wp|steel guitar}}. Bumper has average speed, acceleration, and turning abilities. His top speed without bananas is 56.5 mph, like with [[Conker]] and Timber. His vehicle color is yellow. Bumper had very few changes in the Nintendo DS remake, such as a more matured voice.
 
===''Mario no Bōken Land''===
Bumper makes a small non-speaking cameo in the ''Diddy Kong Racing'' segment of ''[[Mario no Bōken Land]]'', titled "Go Go Diddy!". He is shown competing in a race, in his car, in second place.
 
===''4koma Gag Battle''===
Bumper appears throughout the ''[[4koma Gag Battle]]'' manga adaptation of ''Diddy Kong Racing''.
 
===''Mario Artist: Paint Studio''===
His ''Diddy Kong Racing'' artwork appears as a stamp in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]''.
{{br|left}}
===Unused appearances===
A "Dark" version of Bumper would have appeared in the ''[[Diddy Kong Racing Adventure]]'', which was a rejected pitch for a ''Diddy Kong Racing'' sequel. He would have used mud tornadoes as his special move.
 
==Profile and statistics==
===''Diddy Kong Racing''===
*'''Character stats'''
**'''Weight:''' Middle
**'''Acceleration:''' 2.5/5
**'''Handling:''' 2.5/5
**'''Top Speed:''' 3/5
**'''Vehicle Color:''' Yellow
*'''Instruction booklet bio''': "''(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle. He gets even more worked up than his friends when he realizes how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of Wizpig...''"<ref>{{cite|title=''Diddy Kong Racing'' instruction booklet|page=24|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=1997}}</ref>
*'''[[Nintendo Power#Player's Guides|Player's Guide]]''': "''Recruited by Timber to join the resistance against Wizpig, this burly badger is ready to take on all comers. It’s not just his sense of justice that’s spurring him on, though. He’s in it as much for the sheer thrill of racing as anything else.''"<ref>{{cite|title=''Diddy Kong Racing'' Nintendo Player's Guide|author=Swan, Leslie|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1997|page=6}}</ref>
*'''''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Volume 103''': "''Bumper the badger breaks from the time-honored badger traditions of burrowing and sleeping twenty hours a day. This fellow lives for speed. Although all his starts put him in the middle range, he has good handling in every vehicle. With Bumper, you may never need to choose another driver.''"<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 103|page=15|date=December 1997|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref>
*'''Diddy's Drivers Ed''': "''Bumper's a light-heavyweight who does well on courses where there isn't a lot of turning required. His handling is slightly better than Conker's, but his acceleration is not as good.''"<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/19981206065714/http://www.dkr.com/driversed.html|deadlink=y|title=Diddy's Drivers Ed|publisher=dkr.com|accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref>
*'''''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition:''''' "''Trending toward the heavy end of the weight spectrum, Bumper suffers from slightly sluggish handling and lower-than-average acceleration (but not by much). On the plus side, he’s got a higher top speed than any animal but Banjo or Krunch. His added weight and relatively midground attributes make him a good candidate for any Hover race, especially as long as there are no extremely tight corners.''"<ref>{{cite|date=April 7, 1999|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide''|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|isbn=0-7615-2103-7|page=36}}</ref>
*'''Rarewhere''': "''Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle, and he gets even more worked up than his friends when he realises how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of old snout-face Wizpig!''"<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/19980705005250/http://www.rare.co.uk/recent/games/racing/castlist/cast_bumper.html|deadlink=y|title=Rarewhere: DKR Cast List|publisher=Rarewhere|accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref>
 
===''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===
*'''Character stats'''
**'''Speed:''' 3/5
**'''Acceleration:''' 2/5
**'''Handling:''' 3/5
 
==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Bumper.jpg|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''
DKRJPNC.png|''Diddy Kong Racing'' (Japanese commercial)
BumperBoken.jpg|''[[Mario no Bōken Land]]''
Bumper4k.png|''[[4koma Gag Battle]]''
Bumper DKRDS art.jpg|''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''
</gallery>
 
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=バンパー
|JapR=Banpā
|JapM=Bumper
|Fre=Bumper<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo64ever.com/Scans-Magazine,52,Le-Magazine-Officiel-Nintendo-03.html|title=Official Nintendo french magazine N3|page=25}}</ref>
}}
 
==References==
<references/>


{{DKR}}
{{DKR}}
 
[[Category:Carnivorans]]
[[Category: Donkey Kong Characters]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]
[[Category: Donkey Kong Allies]]
[[Category:Third-party characters]]
[[Category: Playable Characters]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong allies]]
[[Category:Diddy Kong Racing characters]]
[[de:Bumper (Charakter)]]

Latest revision as of 10:24, October 12, 2024

Bumper
Bumper's artwork from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Bumper, as he appears in Diddy Kong Racing DS
Full name Bumper the badger[1]
Species Badger
First appearance Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Latest appearance Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007)
Portrayed by Lee Schuneman[2]
“Badgers don't stink, no matter what anyone else says.”
—Bumper, Nintendo Power[3]

Bumper is a badger and one of the playable characters in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake. He also appeared in various Super Mario media released only in Japan, but this stopped in 2002, when the rights of Bumper were transferred to Microsoft, following their acquisition of Rare Ltd.

He is described across multiple supplemental material to Diddy Kong Racing as a lover of speed, thrills and races. A promotional e-mail by Rare Ltd. in 2004 to promote the release of Conker: Live & Reloaded implied that one of the racers from Diddy Kong Racing had been jailed.[4] An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".[5] A tweet made by Rare Ltd. in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki account on Twitter added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.[6]

History[edit]

Concept and creation[edit]

Early model for a blue Bumper

An early design of Bumper was shared online by Kevin Bayliss, former Rare graphic and character designer that worked on Diddy Kong Racing.[7][8][better source needed] This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.

Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS[edit]

Bumper was one of many characters whom Timber contacted for help to stop Wizpig from taking over Timber's Island. Bumper's theme instrument on the character selection menu is a steel guitar. Bumper has average speed, acceleration, and turning abilities. His top speed without bananas is 56.5 mph, like with Conker and Timber. His vehicle color is yellow. Bumper had very few changes in the Nintendo DS remake, such as a more matured voice.

Mario no Bōken Land[edit]

Bumper makes a small non-speaking cameo in the Diddy Kong Racing segment of Mario no Bōken Land, titled "Go Go Diddy!". He is shown competing in a race, in his car, in second place.

4koma Gag Battle[edit]

Bumper appears throughout the 4koma Gag Battle manga adaptation of Diddy Kong Racing.

Mario Artist: Paint Studio[edit]

His Diddy Kong Racing artwork appears as a stamp in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.

Unused appearances[edit]

A "Dark" version of Bumper would have appeared in the Diddy Kong Racing Adventure, which was a rejected pitch for a Diddy Kong Racing sequel. He would have used mud tornadoes as his special move.

Profile and statistics[edit]

Diddy Kong Racing[edit]

  • Character stats
    • Weight: Middle
    • Acceleration: 2.5/5
    • Handling: 2.5/5
    • Top Speed: 3/5
    • Vehicle Color: Yellow
  • Instruction booklet bio: "(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle. He gets even more worked up than his friends when he realizes how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of Wizpig..."[9]
  • Player's Guide: "Recruited by Timber to join the resistance against Wizpig, this burly badger is ready to take on all comers. It’s not just his sense of justice that’s spurring him on, though. He’s in it as much for the sheer thrill of racing as anything else."[10]
  • Nintendo Power Volume 103: "Bumper the badger breaks from the time-honored badger traditions of burrowing and sleeping twenty hours a day. This fellow lives for speed. Although all his starts put him in the middle range, he has good handling in every vehicle. With Bumper, you may never need to choose another driver."[11]
  • Diddy's Drivers Ed: "Bumper's a light-heavyweight who does well on courses where there isn't a lot of turning required. His handling is slightly better than Conker's, but his acceleration is not as good."[12]
  • Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition: "Trending toward the heavy end of the weight spectrum, Bumper suffers from slightly sluggish handling and lower-than-average acceleration (but not by much). On the plus side, he’s got a higher top speed than any animal but Banjo or Krunch. His added weight and relatively midground attributes make him a good candidate for any Hover race, especially as long as there are no extremely tight corners."[13]
  • Rarewhere: "Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle, and he gets even more worked up than his friends when he realises how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of old snout-face Wizpig!"[14]

Diddy Kong Racing DS[edit]

  • Character stats
    • Speed: 3/5
    • Acceleration: 2/5
    • Handling: 3/5

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Bumper (character).

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese バンパー[?]
Banpā 		Bumper
French Bumper[15] -

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Diddy Kong Racing. Nintendo of Australia. Archived February 18, 1999, 06:05:58 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ April 2013. GamesTM Issue 134 ("The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games"). Page 58.
  3. ^ November 1997. Nintendo Power Volume 102. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 29.
  4. ^ Conker's Public Address. The Next Level. Retrieved December 3, 2017. (Archived August 4, 2008, 09:49:26 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  5. ^ Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2017. (Archived February 10, 2014, 12:13:09 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  6. ^ RareLtd (October 6, 2021). Oh, Bumper's been a free badger (well, on parole) for a while now and he's superficially sorry for all those bad things he did.. X. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  7. ^ TCRF. Development:Diddy Kong Racing. The Cutting Room Floor.
  8. ^ @render_archive. Some diddy kong racing test renders shared by kev bayliss on tik tok. X. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ^ 1997. Diddy Kong Racing instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 24.
  10. ^ Swan, Leslie (1997). Diddy Kong Racing Nintendo Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 6.
  11. ^ December 1997. Nintendo Power Volume 103. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 15.
  12. ^ Diddy's Drivers Ed. dkr.com. Archived December 6, 1998, 06:57:14 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  13. ^ April 7, 1999. Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. ISBN 0-7615-2103-7. Page 36.
  14. ^ Rarewhere: DKR Cast List. Rarewhere. Archived July 5, 1998, 00:52:50 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Official Nintendo french magazine N3. Page 25.
[Edit]
Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS
Playable characters Diddy Kong • Krunch • Drumstick • Bumper • Tiptup • T.T. • Pipsy • Timber • Banjoa • Conkera • Tiny Kongb • Dixie Kongb • Tajb • Wizpigb
Vehicles Car • Plane • Hovercraft
Bosses Tricky • Bluey • Bubbler • Smokey • Wizpig
Worlds Dino Domain • Snowflake Mountain • Sherbet Island • Dragon Forest • Future Fun Land • DK Islandb
Tracks Ancient Lake • Fossil Canyon • Jungle Falls • Hot Top Volcano • Everfrost Peak • Walrus Cove • Snowball Valley • Frosty Village • Whale Bay • Crescent Island • Pirate Lagoon • Treasure Caves • Windmill Plains • Greenwood Village • Boulder Canyon • Haunted Woods • Spacedust Alley • Darkmoon Caverns • Spaceport Alpha • Star City • Thunder Coveb • Meandering Mountb • Splashdown Passb • Strangled Shrineb
Boss tracks Tricky Challenge • Bluey Challenge • Bubbler Challenge • Smokey Challenge • Wizpig's First Strike • Wizpig Strikes Back
Challenge levels Fire Mountain • Icicle Pyramid • Darkwater Beach • Smokey Castle
Items & objects Bananaa • Coinb • Discovery Cardb • Golden Balloon • Power-Up Tokenb • Silver Coin • Taj Tokenb • Tree • T.T. amulet • Weapon Balloon • Wish Key • Wizpig amulet • Zipper
Other Gallery (N64 · DS) • Glitches • Media • Quotes • Timber's Balloon Pop • Trophy Race • Wish Race
a Exclusive to Diddy Kong Racing
Retrieved from "https://www.mariowiki.com/index.php?title=Bumper_(character)&oldid=4394294"